Well, with the ending of one of my stories close by, I decided to start this one. Neji and Tenten are one of my favorite couples, hope you enjoy, review!
Chapter 1
New Day, New Mission
As the morning sun shined its light through the streets of Konoha various villagers were up doing their morning activities and chores. It all seemed to be peaceful. All of them cheerful and happy. But in truth, the were worried, scared even. It had been three years since Orochimaru had shone his face, and the death of the forth Hokage still hurt them, but life went on.
With all the problems, many, if not all of the jounin had been sent away to level S or A missions. Leaving chunins to undertake the B and Cs, barely having time for the D missions. The Hokage herself had so much work that she was barely seen out of her office. But they would still hope for the best, for one day this nightmare to end.
Naruto and Jiraiya had returned. The former rookies have all become, with the exception of Naruto and Sasuke, chunins, and Hyuga Neji even a jounin. It appears, after all, things are not as bad as they seemed to be.
As a loud piercing noise her ears, Tenten quickly sat up. She rubbed her eyes and looked to her side. Her alarm clock was ringing. 'Another day begins…' Tenten quickly grabbed the kunai under her pillow and struck the alarm clock head on. She looked at the broken clock and gave a faint smile. "Oops, got to remember to buy another one."
It was a beautiful day. Tenten couldn't help but smile as she walked through the streets of Konoha. 'I'm glad everything is peaceful… but so many people have gone away… Gai sensei. I remember when you left, Lee's still sad. It was only two weeks ago, and you won't be back in three more…'
Flashback.
"I will have to go now, but I shall return." Gai said, as Rock Lee looked at him trying not to cry. "So worry not, use the power of youth and take care of yourselves, all of you."
Rock Lee nodded as Neji and Tenten stood on the back. Tenten looked as Neji just gave a faint smile. 'Neji won't admit it, but he cares about Gai sensei, so do I… This is one of those team moments we'll never forget…"
At that moment Rock Lee's eyes filled with tears as he shouted. "I'll miss you Gai sensei!" At that moment Gai punched Lee knocking him to the floor. "Don't cry, we must be strong, always remember that." Lee stood up and smiled widely. "Yes Gai sensei." The both hugged and cried there eyes out.
Neji just looked down and nodded. Tenten smiled and thought. 'Then again, maybe not.'
Flashback ends.
Tenten kept on walking until reaching the Hokage's tower. The two ANBU guards who stood there gave her a stare, not really noticeable under those masks anyway. "Do you have an appointment?" One asked.
Tenten nodded. "I do, my name's Tenten, lady Tsunade-sama wishes to speak to me." The other ANBU guard looked at a list he had on his hand. After looking at it for a bit he nodded. "Yes. You may pass." They opened the door for her and after a thank you from her part she walked inside.
'I remember when Hinata's team left, I can tell Neji was worried…'
Flashback.
"Neji-san, I… Well… I'll be gone for some time. Take care of yourself." Hinata said as her voice began to fail her. Even if they had had their differences before, they were still cousins. Their relationship had grown over the years. "Take care."
Hinata turned away and began walking. Tenten looked at Neji and was about to speak when he spoke. "Hey Hinata." Hinata looked at her cousin as he smiled. "Take care now, wouldn't want my little sister, I mean, cousin to get hurt." Neji blushed at what he had just said as Hinata's eyes began to water. "I love you Neji-san."
Tenten smiled at the Hyuga as he looked at her. "What?" he asked.
"You care about her, and you don't want to admit it." She teased.
"Shut up." He said, smiling. She just smiled and stuck out her tongue at him.
Flashback ends.
Tenten now stood at the Hokage's door. She raised her hand and was about to knock. "Come in." Tsunade said, her voice sounding tired and angry at the same time. 'Wow, how did she know.' Tenten walked inside and saw her two teammate in their as well. Rock Lee was wearing his 'Gai' style clothing, and still apparently had his weights on. Neji, on the other hand, was wearing the Hyuga robes. "Good morning Tenten." Lee said, smiling at her. Neji just looked at her and smiled. "Running late, are we."
Tenten blushed as she realized she was a couple minutes late, but with all the commotion going on, time was of the essence. Tenten placed her fist on her head and stuck out her tongue at him. "Morning Lee, morning Mr. Hyuga."
Neji just smiled as Tsunade cleared her throat. "Now then. I don't have much time so I'll make this quick. I've received word from the outskirts of the of the Village of the Mist. They're leader has told us that his daughter was kidnapped by some rouge Shinobi. Apparently they want them to pay for her, but their demands are to high. With all of their money they only make a bit more that half. So they came to us for help." Neji raised his arm and spoke. "May I."
"Sure, go ahead."
"On the outskirt of Mist, what does that make that village?"
"It makes it of no particular Village. They practically have nothing to do with the war." Tsunade handed each a paper wit information about the village, the leader, his daughter, the demands the Shinobi made, etc. "Neji, I'll place you in charge of this mission due to the absence of Gai."
"Gai-sensei…" Lee said softly nearly crying.
"Relax Lee, he'll be back before you know it." Tenten said.
"As I was saying." Tsunade spoke glaring and Tenten and Lee, who both looked down. "Since you are a Jounin I believe this will be a simple mission for you. Not to mention you'll be assisted by Rock Lee and Tenten, two of which you are very familiar with."
Neji nodded as Tsunade grabbed another file. "You are dismissed. Make your preparations and get ready to leave at one o'clock, sharp. Understand?"
"Yes Hokage-sama." They all said in unison.
"Very good. Go."
The three ninja walked out of her office and out of the tower. The three walked a few steps in silence until Tenten broke the silence. "So how hard do you think this mission will be?"
Neither of her teammates spoke, which worried her. 'I know times are bad, but we can at least still speak like we did before.' "Guys."
"My apologies Tenten, I was thinking of something else." Lee said.
"Gai sensei."
"How did you know?"
"Lucky guess." 'Yeah right' She thought.
"Let's keep focus. This mission is important, let's try to keep it a priority." Neji sounded a bit angry.
"Relax Neji. We know how important the mission is. Chill out." Tenten said smiling.
"Tenten, you…" Neji stopped as he turned and faced his teammate. That beautiful face of hers. He beautiful eyes. He hated and loved that about her. He loved her beauty, the only girl he knew that could basically freeze him up just looking at him was her. But he hated her having that control over him, even if she didn't know it.
To her it was no different, he was a handsome young man. No doubt about that. She had even had dreams about him, a few that made her blush when she thought about them. The could basically be summed up by two words: first kiss.
'Neji, damn it, react. I'm frozen like a total idiot here. Look at something else that's not her face.' Neji lowered his view but it didn't help. His stare went down to her breasts. 'Not there you idiot.' So big and round, he wish he could just…
"Hey, If you two don't stop eyeing each other were going to be late, we have to pack our stuff and go." Lee said, smiling from ear to ear.
"We're not eyeing each other." The both spoke in unison, blushing as the both heard the other speak.
As Neji entered his room he quickly took everything he needed. 'Clothes, check. Weaponry, check. Medical equipment, check. Food supplies, check…' Neji looked as he closed his backpack at a team picture he had back when they were thirteen. Gai with his good-guy-pose, and Lee in his infamous jumpsuit doing the same. He himself looked different. His darker self. The one Naruto helped him beat. And then there was her…
'Always beautiful. No matter when or where.' Neji signed as he picked up his back pack and strapped it in. "This is going to be one long trip."
Not a long chapter, but I'm a bit tired to make it longer, don't forget to leave a review.
